Wheel cover



Dec. 18, 1956 G. A, LYON WHEEL COVER Filed July so, 1952 A 5 S .zZ/g5.

prises a circular dished concave-convex stamping 25 with an outer peripheral turned reinforcing circular edge or shoulder 26. This edge or shoulder 26 when the cover is n the wheel is disposed beyond and out of contact with the rim and is in fact slightly'spaced therefrom so that the end of a pry-olf tool such as a screw driver can be inserted in the space to work against the shoulder and forcibly eject the cover from the wheel when it is desired to have access to the usual Wheel bolts (not shown) at the center of the wheel.

Each of the corners of the stamping from which my cover 20 is made is turned under the main body 25 and formed into an axially extending resilient elongated coverretaining ange or finger extensions 30. It should be noted that all of the corner flanges or lingers are preferably made identical and hence, a description of one will sutiice for all.

Each of the inwardly projecting fingers 30 is spaced from the adjoining flange 22 of the rim 10 (Figure 2) but is preferably provided with means to define a predetermined limit of inward movement of the cover, such means herein being adapted to yieldably bottom at 21 on the rim and comprising axially inwardly facing stop surface portions or the distal extremity or terminal portions of the fingers. In other Words, when the c over 20 is pressed fully home against the wheel, the axially inner portions of the fingers 30 are under resilient tension, thereby causing these fingers 30 to resiliently grip the rim and stop against the generally `axially outwardly facing portion of the juncture 21 disposed axially and radially inwardly adjacent to the rim lange 22 at the side tiange of the tire rim.

Means are provided at the inner extremities of the ngers 30 cooperating to hold them in cover retaining engagement with the tire rim flange 22. To this end the axially innermost extremity of each of the ngers 30 is notched out at 31 and the notched out portion is turned into a curled shoulder portion 32 providing a generally axially outwardly facing shoulder which is spaced substantially axially outwardly from the stop surface portion of the finger and is engageable by the retaining shoulder portion 18 of the extremity 17 of the spring clip (Figure 3). By notching out the fingers 30 I provide an opening for receiving the end of the clip which opening or recess is anked by portions 33-33 of the inner extremity terminal tlange structure of the corner flange.

In the application of the cover 20, it is placed over the Wheel and the notches 31 of the fingers 30 are aligned with the free extremities 17 of the spring clips 15. Then the cover is pressed axially into the wheel causing the turned shoulder portions 32 to ride over the resiliently yielding humped ends 17 of the spring clips until the shoulder portions 32 are behind the extremity shoulders 18 of the clips. In this relationship, the oppositely circumferentially facing surfaces at the edges of the clip shoulder portions 18 engageably face the opposing spaced Y apart circumferentially facing surfaces at the inner edges defining the recesses 31 to hold the cover against turning on the wheel.

As the shoulder portions 32 pass over the high points of the clips 15 the axially inner extremities of the lingers 30 engage the bottom portion 21 of the rim ange 22 at juncture with the side ange of the tire rim which resiliently cam the lingers toward the axis of the Wheel so that the ngers are under resilient stress. words, the iingers 30 are not only resiliently gripped by the retaining clips but in addition are held under stress by being slightly distorted toward the axis of the wheel. This is accomplished by having the inner end portions of the lingers 30 normally on at least a slightly greater the tire rim intermediate flange 22.

On the other hand, the outer reinforcing shoulder 26 of the cover body 25 is at all times out of, contact with In other the rim so that the outer anges of the rim can flex in the use of the wheel without affecting the cover. As a matter of fact, any distortion of the rim will not result in displacement of the cover, as the cover is floatingly held on the wheel by the fingers 30 and the means at the inner ends of the fingers, here comprising the spring clips 15.

It will be observed that each of the retaining fingers 30 is of substantial width, tapering from the reinforcing and pry-olf shoulder 26 at each side toward the distal or inner end portion, as best seen in Figure 3. In addition, each of the retaining ngers 30 is of arcuate transverse or peripheral shape. As a result, each of the fingers 30 is highly resilient, and while it is susceptible of radial resilient stressing, especially radially inwardly upon application to the wheel, the Wide, tapered, transversely arcuate structure of the retaining fingers 30 assures a high degree of resilient stress toward the tire rim ange 22.

It will also be observed in Figure 2 that in the fully applied condition of the cover 20 to the Wheel, and even though the retaining fingers 30 are substantially stressed by reason of having been forced radially inwardly at their tips when cammed inwardly along the tire rim ange 22, only the extremity portions of the fingers engage the flange 22 and the remainder or body portions of the retaining fingers 30 are out of contact with the intermediate tire rim ange so that substantial radial oating movement of the cover is enabled by radial resilient exing of the fingers relative to the wheel flange 22 about a fulcrum at the inner extremities of thel fingers.

While I have shown the cover 25 in the form of al full disk or cap, the center portion could be cut out of the body 25 on the dotted line A in which case the member 20 would be in the form of an ornamental ring. Iny

that event the central part of the wheel could be covered by the usual hub cap in a manner well known by those familiar with this wheel art.

The subject matter disclosed herein is a continuationin-part of my earlier tiled parent application, Serial No.

37,996, tiled July l0, 1948, now abandoned.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. As an article of manufacture, a circular wheel cover made from a polygonal shaped stamping having the corners of the stamping turned under the main body Aof the cover, each of said corners comprising an axially said parts adjacent their juncture, a wheel cover for dis-1l position on the outer side of said Wheel made from a polygonal shaped stamping having the corners of the stamping turned under the main body of the cover,`

each of said corners comprising an axially extending resilient ange having its end portion yieldable upon pressure against one of the anges of the rim part and having a shoulder engageable by at least one of said spring clips for floatingly supporting and retaining the cover on the Wheel and in engagement with saidflange of the rim part.

3. In a Wheel structure including a multi-hanged tire rim having a generally laxially extending intermediate ange and a side flange angularly disposed at the inner margin of said intermediate tlange, a full disk cover for the outer side of the wheel including a plurality of spaced underturned individual marginal flange portions' nevi-gea@ each of whichA is axially inwardly elongated, saidlbnf gated' flange portions being disposeli on a diameter to' engage' under resilient stressagainst'l theinnrf margin of the tire rim intermediate flange and being of a length' to bottom against the s idelflange of uthe tire rim at a juncture with the? iteiiiedia'tef'llaii'g adf' theeby suppo'rt the margin of the' over in; spaced-` relation beyond tlie outer margin of the intermediate flange so that the cover isjiioatingiy imported 6d wlieer andl nfs for etea'saiy' sturing the elongated aange' portions againstY axiallyu otvrd'di'spla-rrlt" f the Wheel'.

4. In a wheel structure including a multi-flanged tire rim having a generally axially extending intermediate flange and a side flange angularly disposed at the inner margin of said intermediate flange, a full disk cover for the outer side of the wheel including a plurality of spaced underturned individual marginal flange portions each of which is axially inwardly elongated, said elongated flange portions being disposed on a diameter to engage under resilient stress against the inner margin of the tire rim intermediate flange and being of a length to bottom against the side flange of the tire rim at a juncture with the intermediate flange and thereby support the margin of the cover in spaced relation beyond the outer margin of the intermediate flange so that the cover is oatingly supported on the wheel, and a plurality of retaining clips carried by the wheel inwardly of said marginal portions and engaging with the inner ends of the marginal portions to retain the same in place tothereby retain the cover against axial displacement from the wheel.

5. In a wheel structure including a multi-flanged tire rim having a generally axially extending intermediate flange and a side flange angularly disposed at the inner margin of said intermediate flange, a full disk cover for the outer side of the wheel including a plurality of spaced underturned individual marginal flange portions each of which is axially inwardly elongated, said elongated flange portions being disposed on a diameter to engage under resilient stress against the inner margin of the tire rim intermediate flange and being of a length to bottom against the side flange of the tire rirn at a juncture with the intermediate flange and thereby support the margin of the cover in spaced relation beyond the outer margin of the intermediate flange so that the cover is floatingly supported on the wheel, and a plurality of retaining clips carried by the wheel inwardly of said marginal portions and engaging with the inner ends of the marginal portions to retain the same in place to thereby retain the cover against axial displacement from the wheel, the inner end portion of each of said elongated flange portions being formed with a pair of spaced generally radially and axially inwardly extending extremity elements defining a notch having a base shoulder receptive of the respective retaining clip.

6. In a wheel structure including a multi-flanged tire rim, a plurality of retaining spring clips carried by the base portion of the rim and having retaining head portions, the tire rim having a side flange and a generally axially outwardly extending intermediate flange defining a reentrant angular juncture and the retaining head portions of the clips being directed toward said juncture, a cover for the outer side of the wheel including a marginal underturned retaining flange structure including a plurality of generally axially inwardly extending elongated retaining flange portions resiliently engaging at their extremities against the intermediate flange adjacent said juncture and bottomed against the side flange at said juncture, each of said flange portions having a generally radially inwardly extending shoulder engaged by a retaining clip and being of a length to retain the marginal exposed extremity of the cover in spaced relation to the axially outer margin of the intermediate flange.

7. In a cover for disposition at the outer side of a wheel having a multi-flanged tire rim having a side flange and an intermediate flange joined on a reentrant angular juncturgtsaid cover comprising a body' df` a diameter to" substantially! conceal the outer side' ofthe wheel includ'- ing: the:` tire rim 'andf having.v an" underturned marginalflange"portionv including. a vplurality' of spaced; elongatedv a'nge'extensios offarv length4 tof seat'sat the Yjuncture ot" said: tire' rim'llangs 'and .being of resilient' structure'- and with' the ter-minar portions thereof disposed oirv a diameter toi-'engage undef resilient'I stressagainst' the: inner margin: of the iiitermedia'tef'an'g of` the` tire*y riirnf,r saidelen'gatedrlange extension-e having'genera radiaiiy inwardly extending. shoulde structure. atthe initier. ex-v tremity portions thereof for engagement by spring clips on the wheel for retaining the cover on the wheel.

8. In a cover for disposition at the outer side of a multi-flanged tire rim having a side flange and an intermediate flange joined on a reentrant angular juncture, said cover comprising a body of a diameter to substantially conceal the outer side of the wheel including the tire rim land having an underturned marginal flange portion including a plurality of spaced elongated flange extensions of a length to seat at the juncture of said tire rim flanges and being of resilient structure and with the terminal portions thereof disposed on a diameter to engage under resilient stress against the inner margin of the intermediate flange of the tire rim, the inner terminal portion of each of the elongated flange portions having a generally radially inwardly and axially outwardly turned terminal structure comprising a spaced apart pair of elements and a curled intermediate shoulder defining a notch receptive of a retaining spring clip carried by the wheel.

9. In a wheel structure including a multi-flanged tire rim, the tire rim having a side flange and a generally axially outwardly extending intermediate flange defining a reentrant angular juncture, a cover for the outer side of the wheel including a marginal underturned retaining flange structure including a plurality of generally axially inwardly extending elongated retaining flange portions resiliently engaging at their extremities against the intermediate flange adjacent said juncture and bottomed against the side flange at saidjuncture, each of said flange portions having a generally radially inwardly extending shoulder at the extremity thereof reinforcing the same and the flange portions being of a length to retain the marginal exposed extremity of the cover in spaced relation to the axially outer margin of the intermediate flange.

l0. In a wheel structure including a body part and a tire rim having a radially inwardly facing flange, a circular wheel cover for the outer side of the wheel having a peripheral pry-off shoulder beyond said rim flange and a plurality of spaced resilient cover retaining fingers arcuate in a circumferential direction projecting inwardly from said shoulder and convergently relative to said wheel flange so as to be spaced radially inwardly from the inner surface of said rim flange except inner extremity portions thereof to enable radial resilient flexing of said fingers relative to said wheel flange about a fulcrum at the inner extremities of the fingers, whereby to iloatingly support the cover, and means on the wheel adjacent to the inner extremity portions of said fingers engageable in cover retaining press-on, pry-off relation therewith.

1l. In a wheel structure including an annular radially inwardly facing flange portion and a portion axially and radially inwardly therefrom and facing generally axially outwardly, with a plurality of cover-retaining elements 0n the wheel having shoulders facing generally axially inwardly and spaced axially outwardly from said axially outwardly facing wheel portion, said retaining shoulder elements also having opposite circumferentially facing surfaces, a cover for disposition at the outer side of the wheel having a circular portion thereon with a plurality of circumferentially spaced cover retaining turned elongated extensions in one piece therewith including terminal flange structure having respective terminal recesses therein affording vgenerally axially outwardly facing shoulders for cover-retaining engagement with said shoulders of the retaining elements and also having opposed circumferentially facing surfaces engageably facing said retaining element oppositely facing surfaces to hold the cover against turning on the Wheel, and said cover retaining extensions further including respectively generally axially inwardly facing stop surface portion spaced substantially axially inwardly from said terminal recess shoulders for bottoming on said axially outwardly facing wheel portion to define the axially inward dis- References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,944,658 Grith Jan. 23, 1934 4 10 2,239,366tv Lyon Apr. 22, 1941 2,368,228 Lyon Jan. 30, 1945 

